Ringways MD Stephen Russell: Tough calls prepared us for prosperity

Stephen Russell, group managing director, has been with the company for 30 years and worked through most departments of the business. He took the top job 11 years ago, just before the recession hit the UK.

Russell had been mentored by Bill Bishop, the previous managing director. When Bishop announced he was retiring, Ford, the franchise that has been with Ringways since 1967, needed to know there would be someone that would bring continuity to the business.

Russell said: “Ford needed to see a senior person that would be with the business for many years and on the basis of that, they would support Ringways as a group moving forward.